Wells throws hat into D.C. mayoral ring

Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells announces he will run for mayor of Washington. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)

With the D.C. primary less than a year away, a second candidate made it official on Saturday, as Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells told a crowd of supporters in the rain, “I am officially running to be mayor of our great city, Washington, D.C.”

“We’ve seen the greatest ethical crisis in our city since the beginning of home rule, and people want that changed,” says Wells. He adds that his campaign is based around three ideas: Cutting teen crime in half, reducing government corruption and making D.C. a livable and walkable place.

He told his supporters that he will not take campaign contributions from lobbyists or corporations. He says, “Every check has to have that person’s name on it, be their own personal check.”

Wells told the crowd, “You know we’re at the crossroads. You know the decision we make for the next mayor is going to determine the next 20 to 50 years of the future of this city.”

The rally was held at the Starburst Plaza, in Northeast. Wells noted that the location is where Wards 5, 6 and 7 come together, saying that it symbolizes his desire to bring major parts of the city together.

John Matthews, who lives in Ward 6, was sold. He says, “The first time, he got it together to make sure the schools were straight when he was a school board representative. The second time, Tommy got it together was when he revamped the schools and the government in ward 6. Now we’re saying Tommy can do it at the mayor’s helm.”

In March, Ward 4 Council member Muriel Bowser, like Wells a Democrat, announced she was running for mayor. The primary will be held in April of next year.